The Atheist and The Bear

An atheist was walking along the woods. "What majestic trees"! "What powerful rivers"! "What beautiful animals"! He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a seven-foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw the bear closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear kept coming closer. Then, he tripped and fell. He rolled over to pick himself up but the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.

At that instant, the atheist cried out, "Oh, my God"!

Time stopped! The bear froze! The forest became silent! A bright light shone upon the atheist and a voice thundered from the sky. "You deny my existence and teach others your godless philosophy. You credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you now? Would you believe in God now?

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly believe in God now under these circumstances, but can you make the bear a Christian?" said the atheist hoping to save his skin but keep his unbelief.

"Very well!" said the Voice.

The bright light disappeared. The sounds of the forest returned, and the grizzly dropped its paws and brought them together, bowed its head, and spoke, "Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ, our Lord. Amen."